Display place-keeper

ABSTRACT

A collapsible mechanical device is disclosed for keeping a place reserved in a frozen-food type of show case or shelf for a particular product, even when the space is empty. The disclosed place-keeper displays the goods conveniently until sold out, and then assures that the empty space is not filled up with goods of a different source.

United States Patent Maisnik [54] DISPLAY PLACE-KEEPER [72] Inventor:

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Myer Show Print, Inc.

[22] Filed: Feb. 27, 1969 211 Appl. No.: 802,898

[52] US. Cl. ..211/184, 211/73, 211/85, 229/30 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 5/11, B65d 5/02 [58] Field of Search....2l 1/184, 85, 73, 72, 132, 126, 2l1/43;248/152, 174; 206/44.ll, 44 M, 1;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,454 5/1877 Taylor ..229/30 Hugo J. Maisnik, 'Monterey Park,

[45]\ Oct. 31, 1972 1,664,465 4/1928 Purchas ..312/205 X 1,886,374 11/1932 Breton ..229/30 X 1,917,980 7/1933 Kelsey ..312/205 X 2,128,342 8/1938 Zalkind ..229/19 X 2,812,852 11/1957 Samuels ..206/44 M 2,940,710 6/ l 960 Adams ..248/174 3,286,876 11/1966 Ring ..220/73 3,327,896 6/1967 Asenbauer... ..220/73 X Primary ExaminerRamon S. Briitts Attorney-Marvin Jabin [57] ABSTRACT A collapsible mechanical device :is disclosed for keep ing a place reserved in a frozen-food type of show case or shelf for a particular product, even when the space is empty. The disclosed place-keeper displays the goods conveniently until sold out, and then assures that the empty space is not filled up with goods of a different source.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing, Figures P'ATENIEmcm we 3101.438

FIG: .5. Fla. 5.

'FMZ

. INVENTOR.

H060 J MA/S/V/K 7' F154 BY M 1 DISPLAY'PLACE-KEEPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wholesalers which sell to retailers products such as packaged meats and other. food items in various types of containers desire their products to be displayed in an orderly fashion and attractively to the consumer. The wholesalers also desire to reserve for their own products a particular place in the retailer's frozen food or delicatessen'show case or on a shelf. They want to prevent the encroachment in to their space by products of other suppliers, evenwhen their own products are sold out and their regular space is vacant.

SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG..1 is an isometric view of a display place-keeper according to the present invention. 1

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. I.

' FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. I.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows placekeeper 11 having front 13, rear 15, and sides 17. Placekeeper 11 is manufactured from a single sheet of moisture resistant fibre board which is plastic coated for additional resistance against soilage and moisture.

The place-keeper can be manufactured from polypropylene or acetate laminated materials.

The single sheet is cut out in a pattern such that it can be folded along bend 19 at the top, and then folded into a rectangular configuration as shown in FIG. 1. The ends 21 and 23 are fastened securely by rivets 25.

Front 13 isapproximately one-half the height of rear 15, and the forward region of sides 17 slope downward until they join front 13, to eliminate bending and tearing of the front corners. The major portion of the length of sides 17 is at the same height as rear 15. Sides 17 contain holes 31 therethrough, so that the air can circulate freely through the place-keeper 11 to prevent food spoilage.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show wires 35 and 37 inserted between the inner and outer surfaces of front 13 and rear 15, respectively, and a wire 39 inserted between the inner and outer surfaces of each side 17. The wire 35 is located within the top fold of front 13, and the wires 37 and 39 are located around the place-keeper 11 at the same height as front 13. Four separate wires are used so that the place-keeper 11 can be folded flat when desired. The wires add durability and stiffness, and could be positioned along the top of rear 15 and sides 17.

FIG. 4 shows in detail how the ends 21 and 23 are fastened by rivets 25. The place-keeper 11 could also be fastened together by glueing, heat sealing, stapling or cardboard locks. All bends on the front sections are double in thickness and uninterupted by cuts, so that no edges are exposed. The place-keeper 11 takes up a minimum of shelf space.

FIG. 5 shows a different embodiment of the placekeeper in which the rearward side 41 is telescoped into the forward side 43. Another rearward side (not shown) is connected to the other end of rear 45, and telescopes into the other corresponding forward side -(not shown). The result is an expandable version in which the rearward side 41'can be inserted within the forward side 43 or extended therefrom, an amount sufficient to adjust the place-keeper to the desired size, to enable it to fit deeper or shallower shelves, depending uponthe depth of the shelf upon which it is to be placed.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may. be made without departing'fror'n this invention in its broader aspects, and that the intention is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

g 1. Display place-keeper apparatus comprising:

a. divider means having four sides forming an enclosure and which can be formed into a rectangular configuration that is open at the top and bottom thereof, and which can be folded so as to be substantially flat; and

. rigid support means for the support of said divider means, said support means including four separate metal rods, each of said sides having at least one of said rods mounted along its length to keep said divider means from collapsing unintentionally, each of said sides being made from a single thickness of moisture-resistant material which has been folded over so as to provide a double thickness, and the metal rod of each side being embedded within said double-thickness of moisture-resistant material.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of said sides includes a plurality of holes therein for the circulation of air.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a first one of said sides is approximately e the height of the opposite one of said sides, and in which the other two sides slope downward towards said first side.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said divider means is produced from a single sheet of plasticcoated material which is folded in half, and the free ends of which are then fastened together. 

1. Display place-keeper apparatus comprising: a. divider means having four sides forming an enclosure and which can be formed into a rectangular configuration that is open at the top and bottom thereof, and which can be folded so as to be substantially flat; and b. rigid support means for the support of said divider means, said support means including four separate metal rods, each of said sides having at least one of said rods mounted along its length to keep said divider means from collapsing unintentionally, each of said sides being made from a single thickness of moisture-resistant material which has been folded over so as to provide a double thickness, and the metal rod of each side being embedded within said double-thickness of moisture-resistant material.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of said sides includes a plurality of holes therein for the circulation of air.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a first one of said sides is approximately 1/2 the height of the opposite one of said sides, and in which the other two sides slope downward towards said first side.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said divider means is produced from a single sheet of plastic-coated material which is folded in half, and the free ends of which are then fastened together. 